Rider told police he was headed out of state for wedding

CU police this afternoon arrested a horseback rider on suspicion of riding under the influence near 15th and Broadway in Boulder. (Photo courtesy @LostontheHill)

A 45-year-old Colorado Springs man is facing charges of drunken horseback riding, animal cruelty and the prohibited use of weapons after University of Colorado police on Monday interrupted what he claimed was a 600-mile journey from Larkspur to Bryce, Utah, to attend a wedding.

Witnesses said the man later identified as Schumacher and his horse were seen wandering into traffic while riding north on Broadway. They also reported seeing the rider repeatedly hit the horse near Broadway and Baseline Road; police sad the man struck the horse hard enough that it reared up on its hind legs.

Boulder police look after a horse after its rider was arrested on suspicion of riding under the influence Monday. (Mitchell Byars/Daily Camera)

CU police found the would-be cowboy and his horse, Dillon, on University Hill near Broadway and College Avenue.

According to a campus police, Schumacher was slumped over to the right and forcing people off the sidewalks. Officers asked him to dismount and gave him a roadside sobriety test, which Schumacher failed, police said.

Schumacher also had a dog -- a pug named Bufford -- in a backpack, and officers found a small black powder pistol and beer in one of his saddlebags.

According to CU police, when officers asked Schumacher about striking the horse, he told them he was smacking flies off Dillon's head.

Schumacher was arrested on suspicion of charges of animal cruelty, prohibited use of weapons and reckless endangerment, all misdemeanors, as well as riding a horse while under the influence of alcohol, a traffic infraction.

CU police said Schumacher told officers that he was on his way to his brother's wedding, attempting an approximately 600-mile trek to Utah. Schumacher said he'd previously lost his driver's license, so he decided to make the journey by horseback, according to police.

As for Dillon and Bufford, the animals have been impounded with the help of the Boulder Police Department Animal Control Unit, Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.

Schumacher remained in custody at the Boulder County Jail on Monday night.